Greater Manchester Police appoint seven new district commanders in local policing overhaul

Following a competitive process that saw each prospective candidate interviewed personally by Chief Constable Stephen Watson and Deputy Chief Constable Terry Woods, GMP is today (Friday 17 September 2021) pleased to confirm the appointments of 12 new chief superintendents.

Six of the new chief superintendents and one that is currently serving with the force will be posted to a local policing district to fulfil CC Watson's promise to improve local leadership and partnership working.

The seven new district commanders will join three already established commanders and complete a new look local policing leadership structure that will see a dedicated and accountable chief superintendent in each district. Chief Officer responsibility for the Local Policing portfolio will be jointly held by Assistant Chief Constables Chris Sykes and Scott Green; the latter of whom started with GMP earlier this week.

The district commander appointments are as follows:

• Bolton - Stuart Ellison (serving GMP chief superintendent)
• Bury - Chris Hill
• City of Manchester - Paul Savill (serving GMP chief superintendent)
• Oldham - Chris Bowen (transferee from West Yorkshire Police)
• Rochdale - Nicky Porter (serving GMP chief superintendent)
• Salford - Shaun Donellan (serving GMP chief superintendent)
• Stockport - John Webster (transferee from Merseyside Police)
• Tameside - Rob Cousen
• Trafford - Colette Rose
• Wigan - Emily Higham

The most ambitious senior recruitment process in GMP history hasn’t been solely focused on local policing and a number of other notable chief superintendent appointments have been made in crucial roles.

These postings include:

• Head of Specialist Operations Branch - Mark Dexter
• Head of Strategic Demand Management - Emma Taylor
• Head of Strategic Safeguarding - Michaela Kerr (transferee from West Midlands Police)
• Head of Intelligence - Danny Inglis
• Head of Performance & Improvement Oversight - Rick Jackson
• Head of Operational Communications Branch - Chris Gibson (transferee from Merseyside Police)

Deputy Chief Constable Terry Woods QPM said: "This has been without question the most ambitious senior recruitment process that has ever been seen in Greater Manchester Police, and I'm pleased to be able to update the public on our progress.

"Since his arrival, Chief Constable Watson has been very clear in his belief that local policing plays a crucial part in preventing crime and keeping the public safe, and I think that has been reflected in our determination to appoint a dedicated chief superintendent to each district. We are confident that strengthening local leadership in this way will significantly improve how we work with partners and provide more accountability, which will set us straight if we start to stray from our purpose.

"However local policing alone cannot solve all of our problems so we have made a number of other crucial chief superintendent appointments.

"Making these appointments is a great stride in the right direction on our journey to improve GMP and provide an effective service to the people of Greater Manchester, which we can all be proud of."